BLINK-182 FACTS:
Members: Mark Hoppus, Tom DeLonge, Travis Barker
Genre: Pop Punk
Hometown: Poway, California
Albums: Cheshire Cat (1994); Dude Ranch (1997); Enema of the State (1999); Take Off Your Pants and Jacket (2001); Blink-182 (2003);
Awards: 1 VMA, 3 Teen Choice Awards
Hits: "Tighten Up"
Other: Travis Barker survived a plane crash in 2008, resulting in the band reuniting in 2009.
In the pop punk resurgence of the late 1990s, there were few bands more popular than Blink-182. Known for a juvenile sense of humor and a penchant for nudity, the trio of guys from San Diego took the music world by storm, and although they broke up in the latter half of the 2000s, a reunion tour and a new album has put them back on top once again.
The band was formed in the early '90s when Tom DeLonge and Mark Hoppus began playing together in DeLonge's garage. The band found a third member, Scott Raynor, to play drums and they quickly began to play and record music together. Throughout much of 1993 and 1994 they recorded a series of demo tapes and gained popularity for their humorous performances.
Thanks to their rising notoriety, the band was signed to a small record label and they released their debut album in 1994 with Cheshire Cat. Though it did not gain much traction outside of their niche fanbase, it started them down the path to stardom.
In 1997, Blink-182 released Dude Ranch, which earned them their first mainstream hit, "Dammit." The tune was a favorite on Modern Rock charts, and propelled the album into a respectable showing on the Billboard 200. Due to the popularity of the album, the band embarked on an ambitious tour, much to the dismay of Raynor, who quit the band halfway through. He was replaced by Travis Barker, who has been with the group ever since.
In 1999, Blink released what is considered to be their breakthrough album, Enema of the State. The record featured some of their most well known songs including "What's My Age Again?" "All The Small Things" and the surprisingly serious "Adam's Song." The album was a favorite among critics and broke into the top 10.
The bands fourth album, 2001's Take Off Your Pants and Jacket, was even more popular than its predecessor. The record featured another slue of hits including "Rock Show" and "First Date," and reached the top spot on the Billboard 200.
In 2005, with obvious tension between the band, they decided to take what was called an indefinite hiatus. With a number of side projects including DeLonge's Angels and Airwaves, fans seemed to think they were broken up for good. However, in 2009 the band reunited at the Grammys, and embarked on a tour that summer with fellow '90s standout Weezer. Since then, the band has hinted at a new album, but it has yet to be formally announced.